Our Principle 2013 Supported Charity

Our President for the Rotary Year 2013-2014 has chosen Canine Partners as his charity. Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs, whose well-being is a key consideration. The Charity is working closely with the uniformed services to provide assistance dogs to those injured while on active duty. More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant’s needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The Charity aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces, and is working closely with the Forces charity Help for Heroes who have funded several partnerships of injured ex-servicemen and women with canine partners. It takes between 15-18 months to train a canine partner from selection at eight weeks old through puppy training and advanced training until they are partnered with a person with disabilities. Each partnership has regular visits from the Charity’s aftercare assistants and support and advice are available 24 hours a day. There are twelve puppy training satellites around Great Britain where the pups are looked after by volunteers under the watchful eye of a Canine Partners’ trainer, and during which time they learn obedience and some early tasks. They then come into the Charity’s training centre in Heyshott, West Sussex for five months to learn the advanced taskwork and to be matched with their future owner. These life transforming dogs also provide practical, physiological, psychological and social benefits including increased independence and confidence as well as increased motivation and self-esteem. A canine partner also brings companionship, a sense of security and increases social interaction. Canine Partners receives no government funding and relies solely on public donations. For further information visit http://www.caninepartners.org.uk or phone 08456 580480. Registered charity no: 803680 (England and Wales) and SC039050 (Scotland)

Nationwide and SAP celebrate 100 years

We heard good news the other day that Nationwide BS and SAP, the international Software Company will be using our event to celebrate SAP's centenary. They will be filming their event so come along and be part of that celebration. There will be representatives from Nationwide, SAP and IBM present. SAP will have a film unit at the event to record this momentous occasion. Come and help them celebrate, you never know, you could find yourself included in their film!

Update on Rob Hayles Career

This year 2012 has seen Rob Hayles hang up his racing wheels. However, Rob, will always be thought of as a local lad having been born in Cowplain and introduced into bike racing at Alexander Park. Though now resident in the Peak District, he will continue to be fully involved in the cycling world. Look out for him commentating on TV at this years Olympics. Read his report of a few years back, when he assisted in the routing of the Southdowns Challenge.

New Routes!

For 2012, we have revised both the 50 mile and 80 mile routes to make them safer and more enjoyable. The section on the A32 has gone! It has been replaced with a route on much quieter and more scenic, but still challenging, roads. I hope that you will get as much enjoyment out of these new and safer routes as we have. For more details see our pages dedicated to each route.

Why you should wear a helmet!

Unfortnately during the Cycling Event on Sunday one of the riders, Mark Smith, was knocked off his bike by a horse box on the A32 between the George at Warnford and the Uplands Hotel. He was severely concussed not to mention the "gravel rash" down his thigh. He fortunately was wearing a helmet otherwise he would have suffered severe head injuries and worse! His helmet was so badly damaged that the Police have taken it to use in their Safety Lectures to schools to demonstrate how it can prevent serious injury or death in an accident. The Police have asked if anyone was riding on this section of road between 11:30 and 12:00 with any information about the "hit & run" accident or a car and towed horse box please contact them giving as much detail as you can.

Cyclo Sportive Event Report

We would like to thank all who took part on Sunday in our Cyclo Sportive on the 18 September 2011 and what a fantastic day it was! Over £5,000 was raised for our charity "Action For Blind People", which is part of the RNIB, and other charities being personally sponsored by some of the riders. Read More »

Cyclo Sportives

Cyclo sportives are long distance road cycling events carried out at various venues throughout the world. There are many events in the UK stretching the calendar from January right through to December. The majority of events take place between Read More »

Interview with Rob Hayles

Rob Hayles is really enjoying his cycling these days - especially in the summer which is really his 'off season' from the track World Cup and the championship events in which he has become one of Great Britain's most successful and consistent performers. Who wouldn't be chiper when the sun is shinning and you've got a few hours' riding around some great Hampshire lanes ahead of you? Read More »